Wednesday, September 8, 2021

State Fair Adds New Attractions

 Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture Andrew Gipson issued the following statement. 

Today, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson announced the details of the 162nd Mississippi State Fair, which runs Wednesday, October 6, through Sunday, October 17. Commissioner Gipson will officially open the gates to the Mississippi State Fairgrounds with a ceremonial ribbon cutting at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 6, at Gate 1 located at the intersection of Jefferson and Amite Streets.

“I am looking forward to welcoming everyone to the 162nd Mississippi State Fair,” said Commissioner Gipson. “I’m excited to announce several new additions to this year’s list of attractions and events. We will be hosting the ProRodeo Xtreme Bull Riding Fall Nationals and a Tri-State Rodeo competition right here on the Mississippi State Fairgrounds. The 2021 State Fair will also include the first-ever Mississippi Frontier Village, featuring blacksmiths, train rides, pig races, shows, pony rides, a petting zoo and other exhibits the whole family will enjoy. Similar to last year’s social distance style, we have ensured the public will enjoy all the usual fun-filled activities, while keeping our fairgoers safe.”


ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS TO NOTE:

  • Mississippi Heroes Night will be held on Wednesday, October 6, and as a special thank you, the Mississippi Fairgrounds will be offering free admission to all law enforcement officers, first responders, firefighters, healthcare workers, medical professionals and active military personnel. Identification will be required at the gate.
  • For the first time ever, a portion of the Mississippi State Fairgrounds will be transformed into the Mississippi Frontier Village. This new attraction will feature blacksmiths, train rides, pig races, pony rides, shows, entertainment, a petting zoo and exhibits. Located at the west end of the Midway near the Kid Zone, the Mississippi Frontier Village is an attraction you do not want to miss!
  • This year, the Mississippi State Fair will host a Firefighter Combat Challenge, a relay simulating the essential skills of firefighting. Individuals and teams will start at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 14, and the tandems and relays will start at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, October 15. All firefighters are welcome to compete; visit www.firefighterchallenge.com to apply for entry.
  • The Ag Expo, presented by Farm Bureau, will be held inside the Mississippi Trade Mart, and will be open to the public each day of the fair. Enjoy the crowd favorite Genuine MS® Store; an antique and classic car show; vendors from across the nation selling unique products and services; food preservation exhibits; arts and crafts; and other educational showcases of Mississippi agriculture.
  • Musical acts performing on the Budweiser Stage located on the Midway include Smashmouth, Ginuwine, Riley Green, the Bar-Kays, Kayla Berry and the Mississippi Mass Choir. In addition, local acts will perform at the State Fair on the Trustmark Stage located on the Midway. All musical entertainment is free with regular fair admission.
  • The 2021 State Fair will include the annual Horse, Mule and Pony Pulls in the Kirk Fordice Equine Center. The Pony Pull will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 15. The Horse Pull will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 16, with the Mule Pull immediately following. The additional Mule Jump will take place between the Horse and Mule Pulls.
  • Senior American Day will be held on Wednesday, October 13, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and will include musical entertainment by Bill Clark of Brandon, Leah Curry-Williams of Jackson and the William Carey Commissioners of Hattiesburg, as well as a speech by Commissioner Andy Gipson. Flu and Pneumonia vaccines will be offered and administered by Walmart, while supplies last.
  • This year, the Mississippi State Fair is adding a ProRodeo Xtreme Bull Riding Fall Nationals tournament and Tri-State Rodeo in the Kirk Fordice Equine Center. The bull riding competition, part of the Xtreme Bulls Tour, will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 9. Tickets to bull riding can be purchased in advance at the Coliseum Box Office or online at www.Ticketmaster.com; prices start at $25.00. Those purchasing advance tickets will receive free fair admission. The rodeo will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 10. General admission to the rodeo will be $10.00 per person; tickets can only be purchased at the door, and do not include fair admission.
  • In addition to the longtime tradition of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce’s famous Biscuit Booth, this year will include a Homemade Biscuit Eating Contest. The contest will be held at the Trustmark Stage on Saturday, October 9, at 12:00 p.m. The public can register for the contest on the Mississippi State Fairgrounds’ Facebook page.
  • Daily activities will take place throughout the 105 acres of the Mississippi Fairgrounds Complex. Children, and adults alike, will enjoy the Farm Bureau Petting Zoo Area and Pig Races, the 4-H and FFA Livestock Shows and will be wowed by performers of the Zerbini Family Circus. Several other vendors, exhibits and attractions will be available to the public, including a Stock Dog Trial, West Texas Rattlesnake Show, the Mystic Wind Choctaw Dancers and more.


Fair rides will be sanitized between each ride and hand sanitizing stations will be available throughout the grounds. Guests may wish to bring and utilize a mask in case they are unable to maintain social distance.  Face masks will be available at the gates to the Mississippi State Fairgrounds.

“Our staff has gone to great lengths to ensure the safety and security of our guests,” said Michael Lasseter, director of the Mississippi Fairgrounds Complex. “I am excited to once again offer visitors and families the chance to enjoy time together, with a day full of rides, shows, good food and entertainment.”

The Mississippi State Fair runs Wednesday, October 6, through Sunday, October 17, with a gate admission price of $5.00 per person and parking fee of $5.00 per car. Children aged 6 and under will be admitted free of charge. The public can purchase Advance Admission Tickets at the Coliseum Box Office beginning today at 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 6. Enjoy free admission every weekday from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., except on Monday, October 11.

For additional comments from Commissioner Andy Gipson, see the linked video.

For a list of daily events including livestock shows, ride specials and latest information, visit www.msstatefair.com online, download the Mississippi State Fair mobile app or follow the Mississippi State Fairgrounds on Facebook.

 

39 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just fantastic, what better way to keep Covid going?

Anonymous said...

I thought maybe the Hinds Board of Supervisors and Jackistan City Hall executive wing would be added to the list of clown shows.

Anonymous said...

@9:07 AM, so you want a lockdown? Just say it.

Anonymous said...

Not a Gipson fan all the time, but this is impressive.

I have not been to the fair in 15 years and I may actually attend this year.

Good for him for trying new attractions, and thankful for people who refuse to hide for the next 10 years as the fans of Covid so desperately want.

Anonymous said...

9:07 you, obviously, did not attend the Wildlife Extravaganza in Flowood a few weeks back. Or maybe you did but have no "beef" with that experience because it was a "good ole boy"/white guy event. Just fyi, it was the fair on steroids.

Anonymous said...

“ Not a Gipson fan all the time, but this is impressive. I have not been to the fair in 15 years and I may actually attend this year.
Good for him for trying new attractions, and thankful for people who refuse to hide for the next 10 years as the fans of Covid so desperately want.
September 8, 2021 at 9:25 AM”


Please enlighten us and share your opinion on what exactly new additions that are must see???

Anonymous said...

You read the same list I did 9:33, but we both know they could hand out free gold bars and you would be mad they were not doubloons.

Enjoy your miserable life!

Anonymous said...

whats the over / under of banners with cowboy Andy face on them ?
ill go with 4

Anonymous said...

9:07 is the person that works from home always has and a lockdown wouldn’t affect their income. The worst that would happen to them is their wait time in a checkout line or they can’t get an item they want cause of a lockdown.

Anonymous said...

No thanks. The large broods of out of control teenagers have helped me steer clear of what is now just a sh!t show with bad food , meth heads carnies and various stank. Oh wait............

Anonymous said...

The whole state is a frontier village, nothing new here.

Anonymous said...

Will there be live fire exhibitions as in past years?

Anonymous said...

Will there be live gunfights? That's not really new is it?

Anonymous said...

If there's no drug test, Ill win that fuckin biscuit eating contest.

Anonymous said...

@ 11:30 AM & 11:42 AM

Re-read the headline. Those are not NEW attractions.

Anonymous said...

Best line in the announcement: Fair rides will be sanitized between each ride. Have you ever seen those folks operating the rides???

Anonymous said...

Who books these bands? It is so predictably, predictable.

Anonymous said...

Is MS still country enough for Bull riding and rodeos?

What % of MS kids are exposed to cows and horses these days?

I grew up with horses and cows and hay and mud riding….but none of my friends raised their kids in such a way.

Fair rides are neat and fair food is oddly enticing….but that’s about it for me.

And it’s really hard to believe that Andy is one of the smartest lawyers out there….he really is.

He does deserve much credit for trying to make the fair a better place for families and kids.

Anonymous said...

"Fair rides will be sanitized between each ride. Have you ever seen those folks operating the rides???"

I saw that one, too, but in fairness, it does say the rides will be sanitized...not the operators. From a medical standpoint, I doubt delta variant will be the biggest concern. By that time, mu variant will probably causing the larger number of cases. If you though delta was something, wait 'til you get a load of mu. If you haven't been vaccinated yet you might live to regret that choice. Based on the current information, you might not live to regret it.

Anonymous said...

I'm coming just to watch you 11:43 .

Anonymous said...

This is both a smart-assed remark and an unfortunately true comment:

Having simulated gunfire at the State Fair doesn't seem like the best of ideas. Folks wearing silly outfits and shooting at each other just seems so...last week (or even so yesterda...oops, today...).

I agree that attempting to make the Fair a more-wholesome family experience is a fine idea. Ill-conceived or stupid ideas aren't the way to do it.

Anonymous said...

1:30 : MU showing properties that make it completely resistant to the vaccine. This coming directly form Americas hero, Big Tony. So please stop now.

Anonymous said...

If it gets under the boy mayor's thin skin, I'm all for it. Why not add a gun show for good measure?

Anonymous said...

1:01 you are correct. Andy graduated #1 in law class. And a very smart lawyer. When he got out of college he wore a suit and boots with his suit. He didnt change when he became Ag Commissioner. He just found a job he loves. And, he is working his tail off to make this state better.

Anonymous said...


"If it gets under the boy mayor's thin skin, I'm all for it. Why not
add a gun show for good measure?"

You read my mind 3:17 PM.

I think he's still throwing a tantrum ... but there's not one thing
the Lil'Emperor can do about it.

Anonymous said...

If they really want to boost attendance at the fair they should move it or improve security

Anonymous said...

September 8, 2021 at 2:57 PM wrote, "1:30 : MU showing properties that make it completely resistant to the vaccine. This coming directly form Americas hero, Big Tony. So please stop now."

If "Big Tony" is Tony Fauci, he said no such thing and in fact said just the opposite. What he said was that there is data to suggest that mu would evade certain antibodies, including monoclonal, vaccine-induced, and covvalescent serum-induced antibodies but it is "mostly laboratory in-vitro data" with little clinical data, and that the current vaccines would still be "effective against such variants." I'd add that they almost certainly won't be as effective the further away from alpha the variants mutate, but less-effective does not mean "completely resistant." So you stop.

Anonymous said...

Good on the Commissioner. I can't remember the last time anyone tried to do anything but "phone it in" with the state fair. Any state official trying to move the ball forward (in a state that's dead last at everything) ought to be applauded.

Anonymous said...

How do I enter my mother-in-law in the mule pull?

Anonymous said...

Pretty sure booking Primus to play at the state fair and having them play "Those damned Blue-Collar Tweekers" would put the fair in the big leagues! Not sure if Farmer Gipson is down with the kind of hats Les usually wears, that could be the deal breaker!

Anonymous said...

"How do I enter my mother-in-law in the mule pull?"

A pageant consultant along with a hair-and-makeup budget? On a positive note, the swimsuit budget won't be...please, please...the slightest factor. I'm thinking tease her tail and wire-wheel her shoes, coach her "Jesus, orphans, and volunteer work" speech, and get her a shiny new harness. If she doesn't win, at least she'll be set for a job at Hoote, er, Hoofers.

Anonymous said...

There will be a murder mystery hour at the Fair every night.

Anonymous said...

I don't buy the claim that 'The Coca Cola Cowboy' graduated first in any sort of class, much less law school. Anybody who can't separate his personal, religious convictions from his job duties is as a fart in a whirlwind, ineffectively annoying.

Anonymous said...

Can't get behind the man in the white hat.
Such a suck up to Farm Bureau and largely responsible for our animal cruelty laws being so weak. He obviously doesn't know the difference in domestic pets such as dogs and cats and large farm animals. Allowing people who torture animals to remain unpunished also increases crimes committed against people.

Anonymous said...

Well 3:35 PM, I like to watch the piglets run around an oval sawdust track. It's kind of like old school NASCAR dirt tracks.

I also like these lil'pigs resting on slices of white bread.

(Fried very crisp ... with a heaping spoon of mayo, a fresh sliced mater' along with a cold leaf of Lettuce).

We call that a BLT sam'ich.


Anonymous said...

"...white bread...with a heaping spoon of mayo...We call that a BLT sam'ich."

An excerpt from the upcoming "Tate Reeves' Guide to Dietin' and Other Healthy Thangs," no doubt. Probably in the chapter about hiding your chin with a good ol' healthy neck waddle.

Anonymous said...

Well, 5:51, bless your heart. Literally. From cruelty as well as from clogging from pork consumption.

Anonymous said...


WOW, Vegan's heads really did explode !

There is nothing better than a BLT during a Mississippi Summer, along with a cold slice of fresh watermelon.

BTW, speaking of lil' piglets, I'm trying out a new BBQ recipe for
Baby Back Ribs this weekend.





Anonymous said...

Andy did in fact graduate number 1 in his law school class. I graduated with him.



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